If the foundation of chiropractic health is the feet, then orthotics inserts are the key to correction
What’s the most oft-neglected aspect of spinal function? The feet! Especially for patients dealing with lower-back issues, the feet and orthotics inserts can be the foundation of chiropractic health.
When patients don’t respond as well as you expect to chiropractic care, a source of interference is frequently located in the pedal foundation. An abnormal gait contributes to musculoskeletal imbalances throughout the lower extremities,
and eventually back pain develops as a result.
The case for custom orthotics inserts
A 2017 Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation report showed that custom orthotics from one major manufacturer were clinically proven to improve low-back pain almost immediately.
The peer-reviewed study saw that six weeks of wearing custom orthotics reduced low-back pain by 34.5% and improved function by 18.5%. The addition of chiropractic care to wearing custom orthotics inserts led to a 32.3% improvement in function.
Bearing the weight
The feet and legs must bear the weight of the entire body — and considerably more during running and other sports. If there is insufficient or inadequate pedal foundation support, the spine will be exposed to abnormal stresses that evolve into low-back pain.
For example, if there is no anterior arch to the foot, excessive weight bearing on the metatarsal heads will cause the transition from foot flat to toe-off to be painful. This alters the timing of the gait cycle, resulting in a rushed propulsion phase. The patient will feel the effects in the pelvis and spine, which are not able to move smoothly through the phases of gait. Orthotics inserts support for the metatarsal arch can improve biomechanics in all weight-bearing joints.
In the case of excessive pronation, the entire lower extremity undergoes excessive medial (internal) rotation, which can cause a multitude of effects on the pelvis, sacroiliac joints and spine. Individually designed stabilizing orthotics help restore and support proper foot function, eliminating much of this damaging shock transmission with their shock-absorbing materials.
Proper foot orthotic devices have been found to successfully modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics and enhance foot stability, as seen in the support phase of gait.
There exists an impressive body of literature supporting use of foot orthotics — for back-pain relief and additional benefits.
To view the latest in orthotics inserts products and options for doctors of chiropractic go to cdn.chiroeco.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CHEC_10_2020_FULL-2.pdf.
